Car Free Day Report and Pictures

Wednesday September 27, 2006 14:14

by Starstruck - Grassroots Dissent

A round-up of what went down last Friday the 22nd

You may not have noticed but last Friday the 22nd of September was international CarFree day.
In Ireland the Governemnts usual inaction was unsurprising and the streets of Dublin were logjammed with fume-spewing motor vehicles as always.
At 6.30pm that evening there was a bikeride through the city streets to celebrate self-propelled transport,the chance for a cleaner city and alternatives possible to break our dependence on oil.

The ride set off from the Garden of Rememberance at 7 or so with about 35-40 riders and 5 or 6 pedestrians.
A ghettoblaster was also present providing the much needed sounds for the journey-and also to ward off the evil rain spirits that hung overhead.
The ride proceeded down O'Connell Street at a steady if lazy pace and crossed the bridge ,contin uing up Dame Street.
We took a left at Christchurch and went under the arch to the uncannily well timed bells chiming(this has happened at previous masses also..).
We proceeded back across the Liffey and up the North Quays towards our destination-Seomra Spraoi-the new social centre for the Dublin activist community..
Following a minor altercation with one irate motorist eager to pass us out and rejoin the traffic jam 200 metres ahead ,we celebrated our ride and proceeded into the social centre foir a meeting and social where the new faces were welcomed and plans were laid for future actions and events.
Discussion was also had on Seomra Spraoi itself,Revolt Video,the Demilitarisation of Shannon Airport and several other issues of concern.
The BBB ride that was posted here - http://www.indymedia.ie/article/78279 ,never materialised suspiciously enough and there was nobody whatsoever at its supposed meetup point-attempts had been made to contact the "organisers" but were unfruitful,a pity..

Anywho a succesful mass was had,new contacts were made and CarFree Day and bike culture was celebrated in Ireland..

Now for some pics-celebrated